Safety-holdback.



W. H. HASKINS. SAFETY HOLDBAGK. f

APPLIOATION FILED SERT. 13, 1911.

L05 1,498, Peunea .12.11.28, 1913.

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WILLIAM I-I. I-IASKINS, OF SAN OSE, CALIFORNIA.

SAFETY-HOLDBACK.

acentos.

To all 'whom t may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM HENRY l-las- KINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at San J ose, in the county of Santa Clara and State of California., have invented new and useful Improvements in Safety-Holdbacks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to safety hold backs for vehicle shafts and the object of the invention is to provide a novel and convenient connection between the breeching strap and the shafts which will obviate the di'fliculties encountered in the usual type of hold back straps which are wrapped around the shafts and with which it is frequently difficult to obtain the proper adjustment.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which will automatically disconnect itself from the shaft in case of a runaway or the breaking of Whittle-tree or accidental unhooking of tugs, or in forgetting to unhitch the hold back on one side in which case the horse at once frees himself from the buggy automatically.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a simple and efficient device of this character which will take the place of the usual snap, its advantages over this type of hold back being numerous. In the first place, the hold back strap remains upon the harness where it belongs instead of on the shaft. ln the second place, there is no rattle between the connected parts, and to change the length of hitch to suit different horses avoids the use of unwrapping and furthermore there is a considerable saving in the length of strap which is used where a wrapping is employed. Tt is also safer than a snap, as a snap will sometimes unhook, and the small spring to a snap will break or give out.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the following specific description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification, and in which,-

Figure l is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of thedevice removed. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. l is a side elevation of a modified form. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view thereof. y

Referring more particularly to the draw- Speccation of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 13, 1911.

rai-tentes aan. as, raie.

Serial No. 649,075.

ing, l represents the shaft of a vehicle to which is secured, by means of the screws 2, the safety hold back which l shall now describe. This hold back comprises a single piece of spring steel wire or like material which is bent upon itself to forni a screw receiving loop and is held in place by a plate with sides and end turned down to prevent any possible lateral or endwise motion. Two screws, or other fastening devices, pass through the plate and loop, one of which is engaged directly with the end of the loop. By means of said plate and screw-receiving loop 3 the device may be attached to the shafts in order to receive an ordinary ring which is carried at the end of the short connecting strap which extends between the breeching strap and the hold back and looping wire, as shown, produces separate legs l and 5 which are bent back vupon themselves to form loops 6 into which the ring on the breeching strap connector is seated when the horse is hitched up. Each Abent back portion lies parallel with the main portion of the legs and in the same vertical plane and extends forwardlly to a point approximately one-half the distance between the end of the loop 3 and the loop 6. They are then looped back upon themselves to form retaining springs 7 which are arranged in between the bent back portions forming the loop 6 and are slightly inclined between the legs t and 5 and the i springs through which the ring is compelled to pass in order to seat within the loops 6. Beyond the inclined portion the ends of the legs are slightly depressed so as to form a recess for the reception of the ring and the terminals are upwardly bent along parallel lines so as to form, with the loop 6, an abutment 8 for the ring which acts to reinforce and remove or assume part of the strain applied to the loops 6. The

springs 7 hold the ring constantly in engagement with the legs l and 5 and thereby prevent rattling of the same.

In devices of this character heretofore used the ring was held close to the inner side of the hook and a considerable distance away from the shaft and, as great strain was sometimes placed upon these hold back hooks, such a structure was frequently found to be ineffective, the hold backs frequently being pulled off the shaft by the strain exerted thereon. With this device the ring is always held in contact with the legs which lie against the shaft and the pull thereon is substantially direct and furthermore t-he engagement of the connecting ring with the loop 6 is such that no direct or sudden strain is placed Jthereon, on account of the formation of the springs which do not have the abutment alined with the loops eX- cept when considerable strain is placed thereon, this strain drawing down upon the springs and causing the ring to slide over the loops until the center portion thereof is reached, at which time the inner face of the loops and the abutment will be in alinement.

In the modification shown in Figs. l and 5, the hold back is constructed of a single strand of wire 10, which is bent back upon itself to form separate legs 11 and 12 and to produce a locking tongue or spring 13 which lies between the legs and holds the ring firmly against the same to prevent rat-- tling. The legs are then bent laterally or at right angles to the first bend adjacent the end of the tongue so as to produce ring receiving loops 14, while the terminals of the legs extend parallel to each other for a considerable distance beyond the end of the first bend where they are bent into the form of abutments 15. A plate 16 is secured over the ends or terminals of the legs and is held in position by two screws or other fastening devices 17 which pass through the plate and between the legs of the strand, one of the screws being engaged directly by the inner abutment and adapted to receive the strain. The tongue is raised slightly from the lower portion of the legs and is'curved downwardly at its ends so as to produce a restricted passage 18 and the socket 19 for the breeching strap ring 20.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is 1. A hold back construct-ed of a single strand o f spring wire, each leg of which is bent back upon itself to form a. ring receiving hook, a portion of the legs lying between the hooks and above the plane of the same to produce a restricted entrance between the same and the strand, said -legs being bent to form an abutment, a cap arranged over a portion of the legs, and a cap securing device passing through the cap and between the legs and engaged with said abutment.

2. A hold back comprising a single strand of spring wire having each leg bent back upon itself to form receiving hooks, the ends of the legs being bent inwardly so as to lie between the hooks and inclined to produce a restricted opening, land an abutment formed on the ends of the springs and adapted to aline with the loop portions of the hooks when strain is placed thereon.

3. A hold back constructed of a single strand of spring wire bent back upon itself to produce parallel legs, each leg of which is bent back upon itself to produce a ring receiving loop, the legs beyond the loop being formed into a locking tongue which lies between the loops and between the main and bent back portions of the legs so as to produce a restricted entrance to the loops and an abutment formed on the ends of the legs and adapted to aline with the loops when strain is placed thereon.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

W. H. HASKINS. lvvitnesses F RANK I. BRIGDEN, Forensi' LELAND BRUCE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the. Commissioner of Patents,

' Washiii'fgton, D. C. 

